OCTOBER 2020
SUNDAY SERVICES
                                                
Watch Virtual Worship Service On Demand!

10am: Live Religious Education Service on Zoom

11am: Live Community Coffee Hour on Zoom

&

7pm: High School & Middle School Youth Group





2020 FALL AUCTION
Bidding is open for the 

Check the auction catalog and bid often! Bidding closes at 8pm on Saturday, October 24th. There is still time to enter your donations but the sooner the better so that they can be seen by more bidders! We already have some great offers: a Zoom event for sharing life stories, a prompt-writing challenge, hand-made concrete garden urns, baked specialties, ukuleles, and much more! 

Enter items through the DONATE function in the auction catalog here. Upload your best picture and then send additional pictures (up to 3) to us for posting on the Auction Resources page here.

 Need ideas? How about a physically-distanced outdoor concert/activity for a small group or a dozen cookies or loaf of home-made bread delivered each month? 

We have a Zoom account that you can use for a party or workshop. Questions?
We will hold our annual congregational meeting, which was postponed in June due to the pandemic, on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 at 11AM. The meeting will be held in lieu of Coffee Hour that morning. A zoom link for the meeting will be sent in church communications in October. The agenda for the meeting will include an update on the building project, a report on the past church year, and congregational awards. Though only members may vote, all are invited to attend.
WHERE DOES THE 
BUILDING PROJECT STAND? 

Construction is ongoing, with current emphasis on getting the slab laid and then filling in the framework from the ground up. You can take a virtual peek at the ongoing work by visiting the Building Project webpages, see video and weekly updates to the Photo Gallery. That click will also introduce you to a new webpage section about the "Gap" status and the Gap-closing strategy endorsed by the Board in September, which was the topic of a September 27 "Within These Walls" announcement and a post-coffee-hour Q&A session live on Zoom. The Building Project Task Force leaders are eager to respond to your questions or expressions of interest - please contact us directly here.
CHILDREN'S & YOUTH MINISTRY
FAMILY FUN EVENTS FOR OCTOBER
Saturdays at 4 PM we have fun activities for kids and the parents who love them.
October's Events:
  • Oct 3 -- Bingo (This is so much fun on Zoom)
  • Oct 10--Magic the Gathering
  • Oct 17-- Drama Games. Make an Instant Play
  • Oct 24 -- The Red Paper Clip Game
Contact Marion Hirsch here to get the Zoom link.
OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN TO CONNECT WITH SUNDAY WORSHIP 
 
Each week's worship is an exploration of a monthly theme. This Fall, as the pandemic continues, we know that families want to connect with church in ways that work for them.

Option 1: Weekly Worship Videos (Zoom-Free)
Kat and Marion are back this Fall with the weekly recorded worship videos that were so popular this Spring. Your family can light the chalice and watch the video together at a time that works for you. The videos are about 12 minutes long, and focus on the theme of the month. We include discussion prompts at the end, so you can continue the conversation as a family all week. Create a Sunday worship routine that works for your family.

Option 2: Weekly Family Worship on Live on Zoom at 10 AM
For families who are missing community and live connection, come and watch the video together with us, followed by live Joys and Sorrows and answering discussion questions. This service is 30 minutes total, with lots of time for interaction, conversation and fun for everyone.


To attend the Live Zoom Family Service, contact Marion Hirsch here or Kat Good here for the link.

UPDATE YOUR REGISTRATION FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S MINISTRY 
 This fall, most of our online programming will not require registration. Our parent cooperative is also suspended while we are meeting online. We appreciate your helping to get your children to Zoom worship and family fun events. Thank you for all you are doing! We know working and supervising online school is a heavy lift.

Reasons to register this Fall:

To sign up for monthly Soul Matters kits
This Fall, your family can sign up for a monthly Soul Matters Kit for each child. Kits will be tied to the theme and have engaging activities for the month.

To sign up for timely announcements about resumption of the Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education Program.

To update your contact information. If you have a preferred new email address, phone number or mailing address, let us know.

To let us know any special information about your children for the Zoom environment, or any other concerns or needs you have.


FALL YOUTH PROGRAM --SUNDAY EVENINGS 7-8 PM 
Programming for both Middle School and High School Youth will be on Sunday evenings.

ALL YOUTH WORSHIP 7-7:30 PM
We worship together on Zoom, with Middle and High School breakouts for
Joys and Sorrows

YOUTH GROUPS 7:30-8 PM
After worship we stay in our breakouts for fun fellowship -- games, activities,
and conversation.

Youth can come for Worship at 7 PM or Youth Group at 7:30 or both and stay for the hour.
To attend Zoom Youth Programming on Sunday evening, contact Marion Hirsch here or Kat Good here for the link.
WHAT WE ARE DOING INSTEAD OF OUR WHOLE LIVES (OWL) SEXUALITY EDUCATION?
OWL is not a program that can be done virtually! It is an in person experience. So we aren't able to offer our typical classes this fall. What are doing while we are waiting for it to be safe to meet in person?

First, we are planning for OWL so we can be ready to go ASAP. Offering OWL is our very first priority when we resume in-person meetings. The puberty-focused classes for 5th- and 8th-graders will be the first classes we offer. We are also beginning planning for the OWL class for older adults which hopefully we can offer in the fall of 2021, if it is safe to do so.

Second, this fall, we are offering the Parents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators course. This course is happening virtually and offers support to parents. It is being taught by our amazing OWL team.

Third, we will offering some sexually education programming to youth during youth groups that is appropriate for the online environment. For more information about OWL, contact Kat Good here.
CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY
The Committee on Ministry is charged by the Board of Trustees to review church ministries annually and gather the congregation's input. This year the survey includes questions about church programs, virtual worship, volunteering, and more. We invite everyone to participate in this process. The survey results will be shared with Reverend Thom and the Board. Access the survey here. If you have questions or would like to request a paper copy of the survey, contact committee member Kim Gush here. The deadline to participate is November 1, 2020.  
JUSTICE & SERVICE
SIDE WITH LOVE
Side with Love is spotlighting church members who are living out the UU Fifth Principle ("...the rights of conscience and the use of the democratic process in our congregations and in society at large"). This month, we are proud to highlight the work of Diana McDuffee. She walks the UU talk, and then some.
For the past 6 months, Diana has applied her advocacy skills helping two female candidates running for the NC House of Representatives. Diana participates in phone banking and helps organize fundraising events. She prepares campaign materials on unemployment, education, and healthcare. Read more about Diana's work here. To learn more about her story and powerful work, contact Diana McDuffee here
. And say 'hi' at the next coffee hour!

COMMUNITY SERVICE MINISTRY
IFC FOOD PANTRY
What does the Food Pantry need most? baked beans, pinto beans, chili, salmon, protein bars, ramen, macaroni & cheese, spaghetti or other pasta, tomato or chicken noodle soup, juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, evaporated milk, instant grits, granola bars, cake mix, peanut butter, jelly, cooking oil, toilet paper, shampoo, deodorant, and hand sanitizer. You can deliver M-F, 9-4, at 100 W. Rosemary, or Sat. 9-11 at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, or Mon., Oct. 5. 10-11 at Binkley Baptist Church. No-touch delivery from the back of your car. Thank you so much! 
(Photo taken pre-pandemic)

SHARE THE PLATE
Share the Plate

SHARE THE PLATE APPLICATIONS DEADLINE FOR JAN-JUNE 2021 
Are you involved in a worthy local organization that would benefit from some extra funding? Read on! The Share the Plate (STP) Steering Committee is accepting applications for STP Sundays for JAN-JUN 2021. Our mission is to support the outreach ministry of our UU congregation by developing and coordinating Share the Plate Collections: designated Sunday morning collections that support specific causes or organizations, which reflect the passions of the congregation. During the pandemic, support for our projects is even more critical than ever! Applicants must meet certain requirements to be eligible. Deadline: Sunday, NOV 1, 2020! Potential recipients MUST use appropriate and CURRENT application forms and submit to the committee as directed. More information and applications here. QUESTIONS? CONTACT: Jill Baker; Jane Provan.
OCTOBER 4 - IMMIGRANT JUSTICE INITIATIVE
The church's Immigrant Justice Initiative aims to empower refugees as they adapt to living in the US and support them as they transition to contributing members of our community. On October 4th we will introduce our newest guests to the Manse, the Castillo-Vallecillo family. They arrived in the US from Honduras via Mexico and a detainment camp at the border. They hope to achieve asylum status and, like our first guest, Yeimy, are making good progress. It costs approximately $150 a week to afford the basic needs of an adult guest at the Manse. Your donation will help us meet the needs of this family-especially as unexpected medical and dental needs arise. Am anonymous donor will match each contribution so be as generous as possible. Please make your donation online or by checks payable to The Community Church of Chapel Hill UU (Put STP-IJI in the memo line). For more information, email Merry-K. Moos here.
OCTOBER 18 - INTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
INTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES On October 18, there will be a Share The Plate in support of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services. Our church has a long standing relationship with the IFC, an organization whose primary mission is to provide food and shelter to those in need. "Now more than ever" is a good way to think of the IFC's need for financial support as the pandemic continues to put a strain on IFC resources. Many families are needing help for the first time. Requests from families struggling to pay rent and utilities is at an all time high.Visit the IFC website here.
COMMUNITY CHURCH SHARE THE PLATE DONATIONS FOR CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO NAACP Thank you, Community Church members, for your generous 8/16/20 Share the Plate donations, totaling $1,175, for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP to be used to support program & administrative costs of their ongoing actionable initiatives to combat racial inequity & social injustice in our local community. During these unprecedented times, the branch has expanded their efforts, in partnership with other Orange County & NAACP branches and other local nonprofits, to address local systemic racism issues. Although the branch has many initiatives through their 14 committees, two new notable initiatives include Law Enforcement Transformation Collaboration meetings & the Learning Bridge Program to support & outreach school children of color during disruption of school during the pandemic to prevent further erosion of the their educational gap in our school districts. The branch welcomes Community Church members to join them in making "Good Trouble," in the words of the late civil-rights icon, John Lewis. Please visit the branch's website here
to get info about specific initiatives and their committee work. Community Church members are also welcome to email Joy Blevins here (a Community Church member & active Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP member) for further info about the branch's activities.

LEARNING & FELLOWSHIP
WELCOMING MINISTRY
LAST CALL! PLEASE SHARE YOUR FAMILY RECIPES!
The Community Church Cookbook is open to submissions from cooks of all ages! 

Alongside treasured family recipes and new traditions, we plan to include submissions from our youngest congregants with how they IMAGINE dishes are made. One of our now-adult authors fondly recalls her early-childhood idea for Chicken and Dumplings: 16 chickens and +/- 40 dumplings! 

Does your young cook have a fanciful (or factual) recipe to share? Do you have a secret recipe you're willing to divulge? Please submit your recipes here. DEADLINE: 9/30/20


We hope The Community Church Cookbook 2020 will be a churchwide treasure for generations. 
Proceeds will help close the Gap for the Building Project. 
SPIRITUAL EXPLORATION FOR ADULTS (SEA)
WHAT IS YOUR THEOLOGY? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SHARE ABOUT IT?

One of the cool things about UUs is we have such diverse theologies -- from humanism to panentheism, from natural theology to process theology. We come from so many religious backgrounds from unchurched to Judaism, from Baptist to Buddhist. We are putting together two panels on faith and are looking for folks who are comfortable talking about their faith journeys. This is a project of Spiritual Exploration for Adults, Living Our Covenant With Intention and the Youth Ministry Team.

If you're interested in hearing more about this project and being one of our panelists, please contact Marion Hirsch here, Krista Westervelt here or David Klibanow here.
SPIRITUAL EXPLORATION FOR ADULTS --STEP INTO CIRCLE SINGING -- ONLINE
Led by Eric Bannan
Saturday October 24, 10:30-12 Noon
We are adapting this uplifting practice to sing together over Zoom! The modern spiritual practice of circle singing was developed by Bobby McFerrin and his cadre of singers. Circle singing draws on traditions of chant, jazz, gospel, meditation and mindfulness to create one-of-a-kind choral improvisations. Circle singing is a mistake-free zone, accessible to beginning singers, but also challenges those with experience. We will playfully learn the basics of making stuff up with vocal improv and body percussion and perform this spontaneously created music as a group. Eric Bannan is a storyteller and performing songwriter who recently spent a week with Bobby McFerrin and his cadre of teachers learning how to make stuff up.

GENDER QUEER AND GENDER-NONCONFORMING 
AND OUR WELCOMING CONGREGATION 

Thursday, 7-8 PM, October 15.

Tommi Hayes, a local non-binary activist will join us to give an overview of gender non-binary identities and issues facing members of the gender nonconforming community in our area, Come an learn about what you can do to help make our congregation welcoming to all community members. Zoom program. 

Register online here for this Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA) course.
EXPLORING MEMBERSHIP
Are you considering Membership? Interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism or our church community?

On Thursday evenings, October 15 & 22, we'll be offering a two-part
Exploring Membership class online, via Zoom. The class will provide an introduction to Unitarian Universalism and our congregation, the meaning of Membership, provide an opportunity for reflecting on our spiritual journeys, and give you a chance to meet others who are newer to The Community Church.

Classes will be held from 7:00PM to 8:15PM via Zoom. Please RSVP with Rachel Rose here.

If you have already taken the Exploring Membership class and feel ready to join,
you can sign the Membership Book virtually with Rachel Rose.
RARE WOMEN
As Rare Women, we build relationships in small groups by sharing our lives and the gifts, myths, and challenges of growing older. Newcomers are welcome and are encouraged to join any one of three existing groups. All groups meet twice a month via Zoom to discuss specific chapters from Women Rowing North - Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing as We Age by Mary Pipher. On Thursday, October 1st, Group C, here (rotating facilitator, 1:30-3:30pm) will discuss Chapters 3-4. Joann Haggerty's group, here will do the same on Monday, October 5th (2-4pm). On Thursday, October 8th, Bonnie Gilliom's group, here (10am-noon) will begin discussing Chapters 5-7. See the Rare Women's webpage, here for the list of topics and meeting dates and times for each of the three groups for the remainder of the month. Suggested discussion questions can be found here. Join our email list here. 
NONFICTION READERS
NONFICTION BOOK DISCUSSION FOR OCTOBER On Saturday, October 17 from 10:30 to 12:00, the Nonfiction Readers will discuss The Color of Law, by Richard Rothstein. This discussion will be held via Zoom teleconferencing. The book offers "the most forceful argument ever published on how federal, state, and local governments gave rise to and reinforced neighborhood segregation" (William Julius Wilson). Exploding the myth of de facto segregation arising from private prejudice or the unintended consequences of economic forces, Rothstein describes how the American government used such measures as racial zoning, public housing, building subsidies and tax exemptions to impose residential segregation. Mary Hulett will be leading our discussion. The Readers meet on the third Saturday of each month. New members and drop-ins are welcome. Contact the group to ask questions, or to be placed on the distribution list for meeting information. Contact the group here.
SANCTUARY FOR DIALOGUE
SANCTUARY FOR DIALOGUE ON ZOOM  In August, Sanctuary for Dialogue (SfD) and Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA) hosted two dialogues on COVID-19 on Zoom, a novel experience for all. Despite the distance, participants shared rich responses to questions such as "How might you call upon your internal strengths in the midst of this new challenge?", and "What new opportunities for you and for the larger world might this moment offer?" The dialogue structure promotes deep listening, with small groups, times of silence, and communication agreements-which translated well to a virtual format. Participant feedback conveyed appreciation: "...it was a breath of fresh air- to not rush on into the next reflection," "made connections about aspects of my personal life I hadn't made before," "surprised how deep some of us went."

SfD will offer more virtual dialogues, before and after the election. They are designed to reflect on how political polarization affects us and how we might best manage, no matter the election's outcome. Tentative dates: Oct 15 and 17; Nov 19 and 21. Questions? Please contact Caroline Sherman here.
OUTDOOR CONNECTIONS
Outdoor Connections, Occoneechee State Park, Sat. Oct. 24, 10 AM
Hooray for Fall and Cooler Weather and, we hope, some Autumn Leaves! We'll meet at the park for a relaxed 2 mile walk, followed by socially distanced, gloved- and-masked-served beverages of the state's choice. Thank goodness for nature. RSVP here.

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE OCTOBER 15
Please use this form  to submit articles. Thank you!

The C3HUU Board wants to hear from you! 
Learn more about the Board here, including viewing the Board and Congregational Meeting minutes.  
 
If you would like to learn more about joining The Community Church of Chapel Hill, please contact our Membership Director, Rachel Rose, here.
Whether you are brand new or a longtime attendee, and whatever your beliefs or background, we welcome you to our community of friendship and ideals.